How does diabetes affect kidneys?

How does diabetes affect kidneys?

In those with diabetes, small blood vessels in the body are injured, including blood vessels in the kidneys. When those blood vessels are injured, kidneys lose or have a decreased ability to properly clean blood. As this happens, your body begins to retain more water and salt than it should, gain weight and have swelling in the ankles, have excess protein in the urine, and build up waste material in your blood. Diabetes may also cause nerve damage in the body that can make it difficult to empty your bladder and injure the kidneys by causing back up.